The faint, elegant fragrance lingered at Huo Yuhao's nose. He lifted his eyes to meet the fiery red gaze so close before him and quietly took half a step back.

"What does Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao require?"

"As long as I can obtain it, I will certainly do my utmost."

Ma Xiaotao frowned in thought, then suddenly narrowed her beautiful eyes.

"How do you know my name is Ma Xiaotao?"

"In the Extreme North, I never told you."

Her red lips parted slightly, carrying a hint of scrutiny.

"And you call me 'Senior Sister'—have you joined Shrek?"

"I invited you back then. Why didn't you agree?"

Huo Yuhao's heart tightened slightly, though his expression remained calm.

"Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao is quite famous within the academy. It's not surprising that I know your name."

"As for that…"

He flipped his hand and produced a token.

"I have not joined Shrek Academy, but I possess this."

When Ma Xiaotao saw the Light Holy Dragon engraved upon the token, shock appeared on her pretty face.

"The Holy Dragon Token?! You…"

As captain of the current Shrek Seven Monsters, even she had never been granted this token.

In the entire academy, perhaps only the senior-most disciple, Zhang Lexuan, was qualified to hold it.

Yet this youth carried the Pavilion Master's insignia?

"Since you hold the Holy Dragon Token, calling me 'Senior Sister' is indeed appropriate."

The storage soul tool tied in Huo Yuhao's hairband fluttered without wind.

One stalk after another of spirit herbs radiating an icy-blue glow floated before Ma Xiaotao.

"These spirit herbs from the Extreme North are top-grade ice-attributed treasures. They are highly beneficial in suppressing your evil fire."

"I am willing to exchange these for the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife. What do you think, Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao?"

The icy-blue radiance reflected off Ma Xiaotao's enchanting face.

A flicker of temptation flashed through her eyes, but then the corners of her lips lifted.

"These herbs are indeed precious, but…"

She slowly circled Huo Yuhao, studying him.

"I believe I've found a more effective method."

"Since ancient times, ice and fire restrain one another. If you use your Ultimate Ice each month to help me purge my evil fire, it would be far more effective than these herbs."

"Agree to this, and the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife is yours."

Hearing this,

Huo Yuhao sighed inwardly.

As expected—

the trajectory of fate could not be completely avoided.

He had intended, in this rebirth, to entangle himself in fewer karmic ties. It seemed destiny was not so easily escaped.

"I agree."

Taking the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife that Ma Xiaotao handed over, he controlled the floating herbs with his spiritual power and stepped slightly closer to her.

Surprise appeared on Ma Xiaotao's face, but the youth said,

"These herbs are still a gift for Senior Sister. They will surely be of use."

Brilliance shimmered in Ma Xiaotao's eyes as she smiled and stored the herbs away.

"Then thank you, little brother Yuhao."

The two walked side by side out of the garden and parted ways in the dusk.

Ma Xiaotao watched the youth's figure recede into the distance, a faint smile lingering at her lips before she turned and left.

Not far away, a white-robed figure suddenly arrived.

The elderly man spoke in a deep voice:

"Xiaotao, did your evil fire flare up again just now?"

Under normal circumstances,

Ma Xiaotao would have worn a grave expression. But at this moment, she was smiling brightly.

"Rest assured, Teacher. I'm fine now."

A trace of understanding appeared on the elder's face.

"You met the possessor of Ultimate Ice?"

"Teacher, how did you know?"

"Xiaotao, this is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity!"

The white-robed elder's expression grew solemn.

"If you can form a marital bond with someone who possesses an Ultimate Ice Martial Soul, not only can your evil fire be cured, you may even transform into true Ultimate Fire!"

Ma Xiaotao recalled Huo Yuhao's appearance, and her jade-like cheeks flushed instantly red.

"Teacher, you… what nonsense are you saying!"

"I… I don't want to marry anyone, and certainly not marry for the sake of a Martial Soul!"

The elder's brows knotted together as he let out a long sigh.

"The shackles of evil fire have bound you for too long."

"Not only has it slowed your cultivation speed, but there is always the danger of backlash."

"Xiaotao, time is running short. You must think carefully."

Ma Xiaotao clenched her slender hand within her sleeve and said softly,

"This disciple understands."

...

Outside Shrek City, emerald peaks rose layer upon layer.

Deep within the mountains, Huo Yuhao selected a secluded rocky cave.

He sat down cross-legged.

The Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife floated quietly before him. Dark red, bloodlike light coursed along its blade, emitting an ominous aura.

"Elder Yi, I'm ready!"

"Good!"

As Electrolux's aged voice rang out,

a pure white flame suddenly ignited in midair, enveloping the knife.

The flame was sacred and warm,

as though it could purify all filth in the world.

"The reason this blade is so vicious is because it contains the remnant soul and curse of an evil Spirit Master."

"I will burn it away with the Flame of Necromantic Purification."

Under the searing white flames, the knife emitted a piercing screech.

Strands of black mist twisted and writhed like living creatures.

In the end, amid shrill wails, they dissipated completely.

The originally dark-black blade shed its disguise, revealing a jade-green essence beneath. Within the crystal-clear body of the knife, vein-like patterns flowed like leaves, radiating boundless vitality.

"Yuhao, focus your mind!"

"Use the Life Gold to open the Eye of Life and complete the transformation of your Spirit Eyes!"

The Life Guardian Blade transformed into a streak of emerald light and slowly merged into Huo Yuhao's brow.

Amid the strange sensation of heat and coolness intertwining, a green vertical pupil quietly took shape.

In ordinary times, this Eye of Life remained hidden as a faint golden vertical mark, only revealing its true form when activated.

With a thought, the vertical pupil snapped open.

A beam of emerald light fell into his palm, once again transforming into the Life Guardian Blade.

Surging life force coursed through his body, tempering his already formidable physique to an even more astonishing level.

Within his sea of consciousness,

his spiritual power also skyrocketed, becoming dense like liquid mercury, smooth and unobstructed.

He drew the blade across his arm, cutting himself—yet the wound healed within a single breath.

Afterward,

Huo Yuhao swallowed a Mystic Water Pill and a Spirit Ascension Pill.

"The Mystic Water Pill can enhance innate Spirit Power. Combined with the evolved Eye of Life, my cultivation speed will greatly increase."

With the dual support of the Spirit Ascension and the Life Gold,

his Spirit Power—already on the verge of breakthrough—surged once more.

A vast aura roared like a tidal wave, shaking the entire cave with rumbling echoes.

Spirit Power, Level 50!

Huo Yuhao's eyes shone brilliantly.

"Brother Skydream, you can release a bit more energy now."

"My Spirit Ring years have all surpassed fifty thousand."

"I'm one step closer to being guided by that existence and stepping into the true realm of the Divine Star!"

...

At Shrek Academy,

on the wide training grounds,

six members of the reserve team stood in neat formation.

Under the shade of trees,

Ma Xiaotao and the other six monsters stood leisurely, their gazes carrying a hint of amusement.

An elderly woman with crane-white hair stood at the front of the team, her eyes sharp as an eagle's.

She swept her gaze over the six.

Her graying brows suddenly knitted together.

"That student who was directly selected into the reserve team still hasn't shown up?"

"Preposterous! As the leading teacher of this team, I haven't even met him!"

"With such negligence, I'd like to see just how outstanding his talent really is!"

Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi and the others shrank their necks, fear plainly written across their faces.

This Teacher Zhou Yi was infamous in the outer courtyard for her strictness.

Her teaching methods were extreme.

She never hesitated to expel students.

Even the dean, Yan Shaozhe, she dared to contradict face to face.

Yet,

it was precisely this severity

that allowed her to cultivate nearly a quarter of the inner court disciples—her advancement rate unrivaled in the outer court.

"Are we sure our perpetually absent teammate is really Huo Yuhao?" Xu Sanshi muttered in a low voice.

"If Teacher Zhou sets her sights on him, he's done for!"

Bei Bei and the others kept their faces tense.

No one dared to respond.

Under the shade,

Ma Xiaotao frowned slightly.

Dai Yueheng wore a cold smile.

The other five monsters all looked as though they were enjoying the spectacle.

Letting that youth—more arrogant even than the Seven Monsters themselves—suffer a little hardship might not be a bad thing.